Planets align in May: What to watch for

(Click image for a larger view.) A crescent moon is seen in a rare alignment with the planets Jupiter (R) and Venus (L) over Beirut's landmark Mohammed al-Amin mosque on December 1, 2008. (ANWAR AMRO/AFP/Getty Images)

The folks over at NASA have made some pretty bold statements before, but this one really does go where no man (or woman) has gone before.

First of all, NASA has obviously never tasted the syrupy sludge we call coffee at my house. Not even an astronomical firestorm could open your eyes like that stuff.

Secondly, that is pretty cool about the planets.

You’ll want to keep an eye on the eastern horizon just before dawn to see the planets taking unusual formations.

NASA reports the show starts May 11, when Venus and Jupiter draw close — only about half a degree apart. (Close enough to hide both behind your fingertip.) Both will be brighter than usual, and Venus will still be visible during the day.

Then on May 13, Mercury, Venus and Jupiter will form a triangle. On May 20, there’s another triangle — this time with Mars replacing Jupiter.

And finally, the show ends on May 30 when a crescent Moon also appears in the eastern sky just before dawn.